Researching Upstate New York 2021

Welcome!

Thank you for registering for the online course, Researching Upstate New York!

Finding information about New York ancestors can be tricky. A fire in 1911 at the State Library and the fact that statewide registration of vital records did not start until 1880 only adds to the difficulty. From the colonial period through the 19th and early 20th centuries, this online course will guide you through the maze of genealogical pitfalls, and to the bright spots in New York research. Our New York experts will discuss the settlement of New York and early migrations, vital records and substitutes, land and probate records, the state census, and more. NOTE: This course does NOT include New York City research or resources.

This course includes four 90-minute classes; exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation; and in-depth Q&A sessions with the instructors.

Instructors include:

Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press and Editor of the Mayflower Descendantcchild@nehgs.org

Lindsay Fulton, Vice President for Research and Library Services lindsay.fulton@nehgs.org

Kyle Hurst, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press khurst@nehgs.org

 

COURSE HANDOUTS

Class 1 Handout

Class 1 Slides Worksheet

Class 1 Slides (large)

Class 1 Additional Resources

Class 2 Handout

Class 2 Worksheet

Class 2 Slides (large)

Class 2 Additional Resources

Class 3 Handout

Class 3 Worksheet

Class 3 Slides (large)

Class 3 Additional Resources

Class 4 Handout

Class 4 Worksheet

Class 4 Slides (large)

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

Course Activity	Dates of Access	Description
Class #1
Class #1: Online presentation (live!)	10/6/2021, 6:00 PM eastern time	Settlement of New York State, Presented by Christopher C. Child This first class will provide much the historical context of New York State’s settlement and development. Senior Genealogist Christopher Child will discuss the settlement and brief history of the colony, pre- and post- Rev War migrations, and then finally New York’s statehood and boundary disputes. Understanding the reasons why New York State was settled and by whom can lead to a greater understanding of your own ancestors’ motivations and perhaps even their origins. Join here: https://zoom.us/j/93079245613
Video of Class #1	starting 10/6/2021	Watch the first class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #2
Class #2: Online presentation (live!)	10/13/2021, 6:00 PM eastern time	Finding Your New York Ancestors in the 19th Century, Presented by Lindsay Fulton Many family historians don’t have to research their New York ancestors for very long before they hit a genealogical brickwall—usually in 19th century. In this class session, Lindsay Fulton will discuss the resources and strategies for finding your ancestors in the 19th century. She will first discuss what vital records exist and how to locate them; then demonstrate how the federal census, the New York state census, Church records, and many other record sets can be used to find vital information. Join here: https://zoom.us/j/93079245613
Video of Class #2	starting 10/14/2021	Watch the second class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #3
Class #3: Online presentation (live!)	10/20/2021, 6:00 PM eastern time	Using and Understanding New York Land Records, Presented by Kyle Hurst With the start of vital records being recorded so late for the state of New York, land and probate records become especially important resources for genealogists. In this class, Senior Genealogist Kyle Hurst will help you navigate the complicated world of New York State deeds, focusing on the various jurisdictional levels that created land records—from county land deeds to proprietorships and land companies. Join here: https://zoom.us/j/93079245613
Video of Class #3	starting 10/21/2021	Watch the third class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #4
Class #4: Online presentation (live!)	10/27/2021, 6:00 PM eastern time	Using and Understanding New York Probate Records, Presented by Kyle Hurst Probate records are an incredibly important resource for family historians, especially when doing New York research. In this class, Kyle Hurst will provide a brief introduction to probate records—including key terms and why they are important for family historians. She will then discuss the unique history of probate for the state of New York and how to locate these crucial resources. Join here: https://zoom.us/j/93079245613
Video of Class #4	starting 10/28/2021	Watch the fourth class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.

 

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS

 

Class 1: Settlement of New York State

Presented by: Christopher C. Child

Running Time: 1:34:39

Live Broadcast: October 6, 2021

Additional Resources mentioned during the live broadcast

 

Class 2: Finding Your New York Ancestors in the 19th Century

Presented by: Lindsay Fulton

Running Time: 2:01:04

Live Broadcast: October 13, 2021

Additional Resources mentioned during the live broadcast

Navigating the NY State Census on Ancestry.com

Navigating the NY State Census on FamilySearch.org

 

Class 3: Using and Understanding New York Land Records

Presented by: Kyle Hurst

Running Time: 1:27:53

Live Broadcast: October 20, 2021

Additional Resources mentioned during the live broadcast

 

Class 4: Using and Understanding New York Probate Records

Presented by: Kyle Hurst

Running Time: 1:21:23

Live Broadcast: October 27, 2021

 

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press; Editor, Mayflower Descendant has worked for various departments at American Ancestors since 1997 and became a full-time employee in July 2003. He has been a member of American Ancestors since the age of eleven. He has written several articles in American Ancestors, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and The Mayflower Descendant. He is the co-editor of The Ancestry of Catherine Middleton (American Ancestors, 2011), co-author of The Descendants of Judge John Lowell of Newburyport, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2011), and Ancestors and Descendants of George Rufus and Alice Nelson Pratt (Newbury Street Press, 2013), and author of The Nelson Family of Rowley, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2014). Chris holds a B.A. in history from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His areas of expertise include: Southern New England, especially Connecticut; New York; ancestry of notable figures, especially presidents; genetics and genealogy; African-American and Native-American genealogy, 19th and 20th Century research, westward migrations out of New England, and applying to hereditary societies. Chris has lectured on these topics and edits the genetics and genealogy column for American Ancestors.

Lindsay Fulton, Vice President for Research and Library Services joined the Society in 2012, first a member of the Research Services team, and then a Genealogist in the Library. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has also authored a Portable Genealogists on the topics of "Applying to Lineage Societies," the "United States Federal Census, 1790-1840" and the "United States Federal Census, 1850-1940." She is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis, and has appeared as a guest on the Extreme Genes radio program. Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

Kyle Hurst, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press holds a B.A. in both History and Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a Master’s certificate in Museum Studies from Tufts University. For the culmination of this program, she completed a semester-long internship at the National Archives in Waltham, MA. After two years as a volunteer, Kyle joined American Ancestors in 2008. For several years a member of the Research Services team, she focuses on research in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, and various European countries. A skilled writer, she has been credited for her contributions to The Root, the Vita Brevis blog, and American Ancestors magazine. With Newbury Street Press, she authored the Ancestors & Descendants of Lester Lowry Mays and Peggy Pitman, edited An American Family: Four Centuries of Labor, Love, and Reward, and is currently working on six other book projects.

 

RESOURCES

Subject Guide: New York Research

New York Town Guide